Download Accessing areas beyond national jurisdiction: Antarctica

Accessing areas beyond national jurisdiction:
Antarctica
Melody Clark
British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
1957-1958
International Geophysical Year
The Antarctic Treaty (1959)
“a natural reserve devoted to peace and science”
52 signatory nations (Parties) of which:
28 are full Consultative Parties with decision making powers
1991: Protocol on Environmental Protection
to the Antarctic Treaty
commits the Parties to the “comprehensive protection of the Antarctic
environment”;
sets out principles for environmental protection;
bans all commercial mineral resource activity; and
requires the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of all activities before
they are allowed to go ahead.
The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties have implemented the
Environmental Protocol in their own national legislation. Some have
introduced their own domestic law. In the UK, the Protocol has been
implemented through the Antarctic Act (1994).
Ryder Bay 2016
Bioprospecting?
Thank you